Farmer leads the honours at BEA awards

The year 2019 was a red-letter one for Scarlett Farmer as the Barbados Equestrian Association closed out their long season with their annual awards ceremony.

With several local and regional competitions across show-jumping and dressage throughout the year, the 13-year-old rode off with the coveted Horsing Around Trophy for excellence in both disciplines along with several other pieces of hardware.

During Thursday’s night’s ceremony at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association, young Farmer was presented with several championship trophies after taking home wins throughout the year in show-jumping. She copped the top spot in Little League 2 at 0.70-0.80 metres before stepping up to 0.90-1.00 metres and rising to the occasion in Super League 1.

Also in show-jumping, Indy Jones was in fine form throughout the year as the fifth-form St. Michael School student was named champion in the Little League Cross Over, Super League 2 Open at 1.00-1.10 metres along with Abigail Haloute, Super League 3 at 1.10-1.20 metres and the Super League Crossover. She rounded out the year by taking home the Jean Ray Trophy as the Outstanding Junior in show-jumping.

Paige Tryhane was also busy this year, winning Little League 1 0.60-0.70 metres for the adults as well as Little League 2 at 0.70-0.80 metres. She was also the Category C champion in the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) competition at 1:00-1.10 metres.

It was a case of the usual suspects in dressage as Roberta Foster comfortably rode to victory for the Intermediate 1 and Prix St. George titles before snatching up the Most Outstanding Achievement award as well as the Top Elite Rider award.

Bree-Anne Hurdle is also quickly becoming a household name in the sport and took home the Senior 1 Second Level championship and the Senior 2 Third Level in the Super League. Her accolades this year saw her named the Top Emerging Elite Rider.

Farmer’s achievements in dressage included the Youth Championship in Super league, the USDF First Level Children Championship and Reserve Championship on two different horses and the award for the Most Improved Junior.

Similarly, Tryhane was busy in both sports and she was good for the Training Level Adults Championship in the Little League competition. She also had the honour of racking up the highest score in Caribbean Equestrian Association Dressage Challenge.

Speaking after the ceremony that saw many other riders honoured for their efforts throughout the year, Assistant Director of the National Sports Council Mona Alleyne gave an address during which she applauded all the awardees for their achievements throughout the year. Noting that the association oversaw sports that were not as accessible to or as popular among many Barbadians, Alleyne urged members of the association to increase their profile by reaching out at Christmas time.

“My final point would be to volunteer your services at Christmas if possible to some of those children in homes. Give them an experience and make them happy and possibly create opportunities to foster a lifelong friendship with your sport. To all of you who have received awards tonight, continue to work at your skills and work hard. Good performances inspire others to strive for better.” she said. (MP)